7 Tips to be Safe Online

With the growing technology and widely spread internet, online threats also increased. Hacking, spam, viruses and malware, there are many online threats challenging our safety on internet. So in this article I will share you 6 tips which will help you to use internet securely.

Tips to be Safe Online

1. Set Strong Password

We set passwords for different online accounts like mail, social media, banking and other accounts. But the question is are you setting strong passwords or weak passwords or using same password for all of your accounts?

Any weak password is easy to hack or guess which will expose your sensitive data. That’s why I recommend you setting up strong passwords with the combination of alphabets, numbers and special characters.

Also don’t use same password for all of your online accounts. Try to set different passwords and don’t share password to strangers, especially your banking credentials. If you have problem with remembering passwords use password management services like LastPass or try to write somewhere on paper.

2. 2-Factor Verification

Some websites offer additional layer of security like adding a pin or your mobile number on top of main password. So even though anyone has your password they can’t login without pin or mobile number, where you receive a code which you need to use each time login from a new device.

Also some websites offer backup codes, for example Google. In case you don’t have your mobile with you then you can use these backup codes to access your account on a new device.

3. HTTPS or Secure Website

Whenever you are browsing internet make sure you are visiting secure websites. Unlike typical website which starts with http:// a secure website will start with https:// here s stands for secure. All the secure website information gets encrypted and is safe.

I know all the websites on internet will not have https. So you can use browser plugins like HTTPS Everywhere which will enforce security protocols on every website you visit.

4. Free Wi-Fi

In public places like restaurants and shopping malls we always see free Wi-Fi. The moment we saw a public Wi-Fi, without thinking about security we try to connect and use it. But there are many risks associated with Public or Free Wi-Fi.

Firstly public Wi-Fi is not secured or encrypted at the source, which means any hacker with minimum knowledge can see the entire traffic on the network. That’s why when on public Wi-Fi do not browse banking or social media websites, which will have your confidential data.

When connecting to public Wi-Fi don’t check the box to remember that particular Wi-Fi network. Also when you are done using that Wi-Fi make sure you disconnect the network or turn off Wi-Fi. When you are on public Wi-Fi make sure you don’t share your files.

5) VPN – Virtual Private Network

VPN (Virtual Private Network) is the best way to be secure online. Unlike traditional ways of connecting to website server, it creates a secure line between you and the server thus protects you from hacking and keeps you safe online.

There are many companies providing VPN services online. Also there are free VPNs which you can use to keep yourself safe on the internet. But before you use any VPN make sure you go through online reviews so that you will get to know the credibility of that particular VPN service.

6) Phishing or Online Scams

Sometimes you receive an email saying that you have won a lottery asking your banking details. If you reply them with your bank details, they will use those details to gain access to your bank account and steal your money.

In some cases when you are installing a software you will get a prompt to try another software or change the browser settings. If you install that software it will corrupt your pc by installing spam.

In other cases you might receive a spam attachment. If you download and try to open it you are opening doors to a potential threat. The recent Wannacry ransomware attack is the perfect example. It will block you from accessing your PC and encrypts your personal data.

They will demands digital currency to give back the control and not to delete your data. So don’t reply for unknown emails. Mark them as phishing and create filters to auto-delete such emails. Also don’t try software which you are not aware of without going through online reviews.

7) Antivirus – Anti-Malware

Viruses or Malware like spyware, trojans, ransomware are unexpected threats. By the time you know where they came from, they will do all sorts of damage to your information.

That’s why I recommend you to use Antivirus and Anti-Malware which will take care of viruses or malware. Also make sure you install all system and security updates regularly.

Conclusion

Online world is unpredictable, threat may come from any direction. It is always recommended to take offline backup of your data, so if anything goes wrong, you don’t need to worry about your information. Make sure you follow my security tips which will ensure your online safety.